Zimbabwe abductions denounced

"This crisis is going to be resolved through negotiation and [the ruling] ZANU-PF and MDC will sit down and negotiate," he said.

On Thursday Tsvangirai accused state security agents of being part of "hit squads" that abducted and tortured 600 activists in the past three months.

He said 150 MDC activists and leaders had suffered life-threatening injuries since February 16.

President's backing

"This programme, which is directed, sanctioned and supervised by Robert Mugabe himself, is being carried out by mixed hit squads, comprising the police, CIO [Central Intelligence Organisation] and militias," Tsvangirai said.